GARDAI have this morning (Wednesday) successfully secured the home of a dead Church Minister in Newtowncunningham which was being ‘illegally’ occupied by a couple.
Yesterday, Circuit Court Judge Petria McDonnell ordered gardai to force their way into the home of Very Rev Samuel Reede and bring a Daniel Green and his wife before this morning’s sitting of the court.
The couple have been living in the home for a number of months.
They moved into the property of the Anglican Reverend who died in 2010, aged 86.
It was only last February when estate agents visited the site that they noticed ‘For Sale’ signs had been removed from the property.
The locks of the house had also been changed and a sign saying ‘No Trespassing’ had been placed in the window.
The proceeds from the sale of the house, which had been left to the dead man’s brother Charles, were to be divided between three local charities.
A barrister representing the family of the late Rev Reede, Ms Fiona Crawford, won an order for vacant possession of the lands and the bungalow and an injunction against Green.
Green was eventually brought before the court earlier this year where he claimed he bought the house and had legal documents to prove this.
He has failed to attend court since or produce the documents.
Ms Crawford informed Judge McDonnell this morning that the couple failed to turn up in court and that gardai forced their way into the house and changed the locks.
There was no one in the house at the time.
However, Ms Crawford pointed out that the house was “secured” in February but that the couple moved back in and re-fitted the locks.
She said the all the defendants’ possessions were in the house and that the white Transit van was still parked outside.
The court heard that solicitor, Ms Fiona Browne, yesterday went to the house and served a notice of vacation on Ms Marikie Green.
Judge McDonnell adjourned the case to tomorrow’s sitting to see if there were any further developments.
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